AUSTRALIA
Broken Rites
A Catholic priest in northern New South Wales, John Patrick Casey, 67, appeared in court on 10 July 2015, charged with sexual offences, allegedly committed against two young boys in the 1980s. Casey has been denied bail. A magistrate said the charges are serious and could bring a custodial sentence if there is a conviction.
John Patrick Casey is a priest of the Lismore diocese, which covers the NSW north coast from Port Macquarie to the Queensland border. The city of Lismore is where the diocese has its headquarters.
John Patrick Casey is currently a priest for the “Mary Help of Christians” parish at Sawtell, near Coffs Harbour. (After he was charged, the diocese announced that Father Casey is standing down from this position.)
The police investigation was conducted by detectives from the NSW Police’s Richmond Local Area Command, which has headquarters in Lismore. The detectives were investigating information which had been received by Australia’s national child-abuse Royal Commission.
At 9.00am on 9 July 2015, John Patrick Casey was arrested by detectives and was taken to Kempsey Police Station where he was charged with nine offences. He was refused police bail and was placed behind bars.
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